New Franklin’s Tyler Hull and Tyler White were recently selected to the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-State Baseball Team for the 2012 season.

While the Bulldogs fell short in the state playoffs against the Sturgeon Bulldogs, they did capture the district title for the first time since 2006 while finishing at 12-6 overall.

As for Hull and White, they were both selected to the all-state second team in Class 1. Hull was selected as a pitcher, while White was a second-team infielder.

New Franklin coach Erich Gerding said having two players selected to the all-state team means a lot. “It means your team had a great season and that not only these two individuals worked hard, but the entire team did day in and day out to help make each other better and more competitive,”?Gerding said.

As for the season, Gerding said he was very satisfied as a whole. He said obviously they would have loved to keep it going, but ran into a hot pitcher and just did not execute the way they needed to.

“I’m still very proud of this group and am looking forward to new types of challenges,”?Gerding said. “Teams will be gunning for us now and we have to be prepared for that.”

Hull, a two-year starter for the Bulldogs, finished the season at 6-2 with an ERA of 0.64. While pitching 44 innings, Hull gave up 15 runs, four earned, on 22 hits while walking 17 and striking out 62. He also had one save on the season. Meanwhile, at the plate, Hull .302 with 16 hits in 53 at-bats with 12 singles, four doubles and 15 RBIs. Hull also led the team in runs scored with 18.

As for White, he also split time between shortstop and pitching this season for the Bulldogs. While finishing 4-1 on the season for an ERA of 0.95, White also pitched 37 innings and gave up 21 hits while walking only 12 and striking out 61. At the plate, White hit .346 with 18 hits in 52 at-bats with 14 singles, two doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. He also finished second to Hull in runs scored with 17.

Gerding said both Tylers are obviously very good baseball players, but they are also better young men and teammates.

“Their performances and the way they treat the game, their teammates and coaches is exemplary and it carried us through the season,” Gerding said. “They set very good examples for generations of future Bulldog baseball players. I’m very proud to be able to call myself their baseball coach.”

As for the 2012-13 season, Gerding said the Bulldogs will lose five seniors, one of which started on a regular basis.

“Tyler White and Tanner White are actually moving to Russellville where their father got a coaching job,” Gerding said. “All of these losses will be tough, but I think we have the young men to compete for championships.”